Tytler seeks CBI probe into shoe attack on Chidambaram

Former central government minister Jagdish Tytler Monday sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the shoe attack by a journalist on Home Minister P Chidambaram, which had brought Tytler's role in the 1984 Sikh riots back into limelight.

On April 7, Jarnail Singh, a journalist of the Dainik Jagran newspaper, had tossed a shoe at the home minister during a press conference at the Congress headquarters here, dissatisfied by the minister's reply on the clean chit by the CBI to Tytler.

The incident was followed by widespread protests by members of the Sikh community, which apparently led to the Congress asking Tytler not to contest the Lok Sabha election.

"The CBI should investigate who coaxed the journalist to throw his shoe at the minister, triggering a spate of demonstrations in no time. There seems to be more than what meets the eye," Tytler told reporters.

"How could a journalist who had never covered Congress as a beat sit in the front row just to throw a shoe at the minister?" he askd, also expressing surprise not only at one TV channel capturing the entire shoe-throwing act and others failing to cover it.

Claiming his innocence, Tytler said there was not a single affidavit filed against him in the court that could prove his involvement in the 1984 riots.

He noted more than 10 commissions were set up during the Congress as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments, but none could prove that he had any connection with the riots case.